Face piece



P 1951 c. J. TABOR ETAL 2,998,818

FACE PIECE Filed May 1, 1956 United States Patent 2,998,818 FACE PIECE Carl J. Tabor, Ailton, Mo., and Nicholas M. Esser, R'oselle, Ill., assignors to 'Chemetron Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1, 1956, Ser. No. 581,916 5 Claims. (Cl. 128-205) This invention relates in general to devices for inhalat-ion of gases, and more particularly involves a new appliance for and concept of improved and efficient administration of inhalation therapy. Specifically, the invention provides a novel means for administration of gases such as oxygen with or without moisture.

It is a common practice in treating respiratory diseases to use an oxygen tent and canopy which encloses either a large portion of the body or the entire head of the person undergoing inhalation therapy. In certain cases, masks which enclose a substantial portion of the wearers face are employed. It will be appreciated that such therapeutic devices or appliances are expensive and are designed to handle severe types of respiratory ailments where the patient is generally bedridden. Little thought has been given, however, to the treatment of less severe respiratory diseases where the person is ambulatory or semi-ambulatory. Obviously, tents and canopies, or masks, are too restrictive and too expensive for the treatment of these types of diseases. The present invention is particularly adapted for administration of inhalation therapy to the less gravely ill. It is of open, lightweight construction, and is so inexpensive that it may be disposed of after each application. In addition to these features, and of more significance, it has been discovered that applicants device is capable of making available to the wearers breathing passages very highlocalized concentrations of oxygen, and yet eliminates carbon dioxide accumulations and discomforting heat build-up in the controlled area. Furthermore, it can be worn by both children and adults without modification of its unitary, one-piece body. It can also be applied with equal comfort and effectiveness whether the wearer is in a reclining or sitting position without interferring with sight or ability to converse.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a device or appliance of inexpensive, lightweight construction for the treatment of respiratory ailments which directs a very high localized concentration of gases to the breathing passages of the wearer and yet simply and efiiciently eliminates carbon dioxide and heat build-up in thecontrolled area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device or appliance for inhalation therapypurposes which is adapted for application to either a child or an adult with equal comfort and elfectiveness, regardless of the wearers position, without the need for structural modification, and without impairment of or hindrance to sight and speech. v

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device or appliance together with a-portion of a connected gas conduit; and

FIGURE 2 is aside view of the device as applied to the head of a wearer.

Briefly, the invention comprises a face piece having a one-piece body adapted to receive a conduit connected to a source of gas. Straps releasably connected to the body are further provided for maintaining the face piece in the proper position on the wearers head, and for supporting the gas conduit at least in part.

' can be made with a single curved wall or for that matter stream of the gas source and the flowmeter.

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 -When worn, the top edge of the face piece. is well below the line of sight, and the inlet of the gas conduit is positioned a short distance from the mouth of the wearer but directly before it. Gases of the prescribed quantity and composition enter the controlled area with in the face piece through the gas conduit at a steady, soft, rolling rate. The flow rate is of course determined by conventional flow metering apparatus upstream of the face piece, not shown. The effect, as a whole, gives the wearer little awareness of undergoing inhalation therapy.

More particularly, and referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment illustrated is provided with a unitary, transparent body 10 having three walls, side walls 11 and 12, and a front wall 13. The body 10 is preferably made of a clear lightweight material such as Lucite, and is sufficiently thin to be flexible. The side walls 11 and 12, and the front wall 13 are formed by two heat bends at 14 and 15 in the body 10. This preferred construction lends shape and a degree of rigidity to the body 10. The dimensions of the side walls .11 and 12 are substantially equal, and the front wall 13 is continuous with, and corresponds in height to, the side walls 11 and 12. The dimensions are such that the top edge of the body 10 is well below the line of sight when the face piece is properly adjusted to the wearer.

It will be appreciated that if desired the face piece with any number of side walls. 1

The body 10 is preferably made without a bottom or top. This open construction prevents the accumulation of carbon dioxide and eliminates heat build-up with in the controlled space. Carbon dioxide, being heavier than either oxygen or air, descends when exhaled by the individual undergoing therapy. The preferred open bottom construction of the applicants face piece permits the carbon dioxide to leave the controlled space i m-. mediately upon exhalation. The result is a very high localized concentration of oxygen constantly maintained Within the space girded by the body 10 and particularly about the breathing passages of the wearer. The open top, on the other hand, permits rising warm exhaled air and body generated heat to escape. Fogging and condensate on the body 10 due to exhalation is also elimi nated by this construction. Thus, any need for mechanically ventilating or refrigerating the controlled space is obviated; 1 i- The body :10 is provided withan opening 16; for .a gas conduit and preferably in the front wall 13. A ring 17, preferably of the same material as the body 10, may be secured about the periphery of the opening 16 for reinforcement. The gas conduit 18 is preferably a length of corrugated, flexible tubing made of a lightweight material such as plastic. It is apparent that variations in structure and material for the gas conduit as well as the face piececan be adapted to applicants invention. The corrugated tubing employed by applicants, however, has been demonstrated to deliver a soft, rolling, steady supply of gas which has given very favorable therapeutic results. j

The opening 16 and the ring 17 receive and support an annularly grooved outlet end 19 of the gas conduit 18. The other end (not shown) of the gas conduit 18 is adapted to communicate with a gas supply (not shown) from which gases enter the conduit 18. Should moisture laden gases be desired, a nebulizer may be-installed down Further support for the gas conduit 18 is provided by a conduit strap 21 of preselected length, which is preferably made of a non-elastic, flexible, lightweight material such as plastic. The strap 21 is adapted to be looped about a section of the gas conduit 18 as illustrated in 3 FIGS. 1 and 2. The ends of the strap 21 are provided with releasable fastening means such as snap fasteners 22 and 23, for connection to cooperating fastener elements mounted in the lower part of the side walls 11 and 12. In supporting the gas conduit 18, at least in part, the strap 21 distributes the weight of the gas conduit 18 to areas of the face piece which receive greatest support, that is, in line with the head strap 30. The light weight of the entire face piece and conduit and the effective support arrangement permit the face piece to be worn for prolonged periods without fatigue or discomfort.

The head strap 30 comprises two sections 31 and 32 preferably the unequal length made of the same material as the conduit supporting strap 21. The longer portion 31 is slit through a greater portion of its length to form two sections 33 and 34- adapted to be spread and positioned in spaced relation on the wearers head as illustrated in FIG. 2. The shorter portion 32 is provided with a non-slip buckle 35 whereby the length of section 31 may be adjusted to conform to individual Wearers requirements. Both portions 31 and 32 are preferably releasably connected to the upper part of the side walls 11 and 12 by fastening means such as snap fasteners 36 and 37, the cooperating fastener elements of which are mounted in the corresponding portions of the side walls 11 and 12. V

In addition to the conduit strap 21 and the head strap 30, a chin strap 38 of preselected length and preferably made of the same material as the other two straps, is provided. The strap 38 is attached to the side walls 11 and 12 preferably at the snap fasteners 22 and 23 and is adapted to engage the chin of the wearer. The chin strap 38 cooperates with the head strap 30 to position the opening 16, and the annularly grooved outlet end 19 of the gas conduit 18, adjacent the wearers breathing passages.

It has been discovered that greatest therapeutic results are achieved when the wearer receives the highest possible local concentrations of gas. To obtain such high local concentrations, the gas must be directed at the breathing passages of the wearer and the outlet must be sufficiently close to prevent the gas from diffusing before it is inhaled. The chin and head straps cooperate in achieving this end. When thehead strap 30 is properly and comfortably adjusted, and the chin strap 38 engages the chin of the wearer, the opening 16 and the outlet end 19 of the gas conduit 18 is directly ahead of and adjacent to the wearers mouth. Optimum concentrations are therefore available, and, moreover, there is no interference with the wearers ability to see or converse.

Experience in treating the less severe respiratory discases using applicants face piece has demonstrated that it will provide concentrations of gas equivalent to those provided by larger and more expensive apparatus with equal therapeutic results. In addition, applicants device permits the wearer far greater freedom of movement and is as well adapted for home use as for clinical use. Moreover, skilled personnel are not required to apply it.

Cold sterilization of the face piece after each using is simple and time saving. Furthermore, due to its nominal cost, it may, if desired, be disposed of after a wearer has progressed to a stage where inhalation therapy is no longer needed.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. All such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A face piece for the administration of gases for inhalation purposes, comprising a unitary body open at the top and bottom and consisting of a substantially continuous wall of transparent lightweight material, strap means of preselected length for engagement with the head of the wearer fastened to the unitary body for positioning it over the oral and nasal openings of the wearer with said open bottom directly below said open top and in substantial alignment therewith, a gas conduit, inlet means in the wall of said body for receiving an outlet end portion of said gas conduit approximately frontally adjacent the oral opening of the wearer so that substantial concentrations of gases from said conduit may be delivered immediately adjacent the oral and nasal openings of the wearer for inhalation, and means attached to said unitary body and engaging the face of the wearer cooperating with said strap means for positioning the wall of said unitary body containing said inlet means in spaced relation to the face of the wearer and for aligning said inlet means with the oral and nasal openings of the wearer, said face piece being positively ventilated by the face spaced wall and the aligned top and bottom openings preventing heat and exhaled carbon dioxide build-up within the face piece, heat readily escaping through the open top of said face piece by convection, and exhaled carbon dioxide immediately escaping downward through the open bottom of the face piece by force of the exhalation and gravity.

2. A face piece for the administration of gases for inhalation purposes, comprising a unitary body open at the top and bottom and consisting of a substantially continuous wall of transparent lightweight material, strap means including a band of preselected length fastened at each end near the upper ends of said continuous wall for engaging the back of the head of the wearer and another band of preselected length fastened at each end near the lower ends of said continuous wall for engaging the chin of the wearer, said strap means for maintaining the unitary body in a position over the oral and nasal openings of the wearer, a gas conduit, and inlet means in the wall of said body for receiving said gas conduit approximately frontally adjacent the oral opening of the wearer, said gas conduit terminating substantially at said inlet means whereby substantial concentrations of gases from said conduit are available immediately adjacent the oral and nasal openings of the wearer for inhalation while at the same time the face piece is ventilated in at least one thru direction and heat build up within the unitary body is thus substantially eliminated.

3. A face piece for the administration of gases for inhalation purposes, comprising a unitary body open at the top and bottom and consisting of a substantially continuous wall of transparent lightweight material, strap means including a band of preselected length fastened at each end near the upper ends of said continuous wall for engaging the back of the head of the wearer and a chin band of preselected length fastened at each end near the lower ends of said continuous wall for engaging the chin of the wearer, said strap means for maintaining the unitary body in a position over the oral and nasal openings of the wearer, gas conduit, inlet means in the wall of said body for receiving said gas conduit approximately fro'ntally adjacent the oral opening of the wearer, said gas conduit terminating substantially at said inlet means whereby substantial concentrations of gases from said conduit are available immediately adjacent the oral and nasal openings of the wearer for inhalation while at the same time the face piece is ventilated in at least one thrn direction and heat build up within the unitary bodv is thus substantially eliminated, and another strap fastened at each end near the lower ends of said continuous wall adapted to be looped about a section of the gas conduit external of the unitary body for supporting the gas conduit.

4. A face piece as claimed in claim 3, wherein said strap adapted to be looped about a section of the gas conduit and said chin strap are fastened to the continuous wall at substantially the same locations.

5. A face piece for the administration of gases for inhalation purposes, comprising a unitary body open at the top and bottom and consisting of a substantially'conq tinuous wall of transparent lightweight material, strap means including a band of preselected length fastened at each end near the upper ends of said continuous wall for engaging the back of the head of the wearer and another band of preselected length fastened at each end near the lower ends of said continuous wall for engaging the chin of the wearer, said strap means for maintaining the unitary body in a position over the oral and nasal openings of the wearer, the height of said unitary wall being such that when thus positioned, it extends fromthe chin of the wearer to horizontally intermediate the nasal openings and the eyes of the wearer, a gas conduit, and inlet means in the wall of said body for receiving said gas conduit approximately frontally adjacent the oral opening of the wearer, said gas conduit terminating substantially at said inlet means whereby substantial concentrations of gases from said conduit are available immediately adjacent the oral and nasal openings of the wearer for inhalation while at the same time the face piece is ventilated in at 'least one thru direction and heat build up,

within the unitary body is thus substantially eliminated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,477 Lombard July 8, 1941 2,540,567 Bennett Feb. 6, 1951 2,764,152 Osterberg Sept. 25, 1956 I FOREIGN PATENTS 621,010 Great Britain Apr. 1, 1949 631,537 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1949 154,988 Austria Nov. 10, 1938 50,041 Netherlands Mar. 15, 1941 

